Life-preserver



(No Model.)

J. N. HOEPLIGH.

LIFE PRBSERVER.

. Patented May 29,1883.

Ii d.

WITNESSES:

ATTQRNEY.

N. PETERS. F'lwlo-Lilhwgnpher. Washin ton, D. c.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB N. HQEFLIGH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LlFE -PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,432, dated May 29,. 1883. Application filed January 25, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB N. HoEFLIoH, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Swimming-Belts and Life- Preservers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view of the swimming-belt and life preserver embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the application thereof. Fig. 3 is a; section of a portion enlarged in line as m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of belts adapted to be inflated and applied around the body and neck of the wearer, thus reliably sustaining the wearer in-the water with his or her head well above the same, the construction and operation beinghereinafter fullyset forth. Each belt isprovided with'a valve, whichis ofsimple construction and firmly secured in position, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.-

Referring to the drawings, A A represent two inflatable belts, which are of the form of long tubes, closed attheir ends and provided with the valves B. The belt A is provided with a strap, a, and buckle b, and thereby securely applied around the body of the wearer, under the arms. Said belt A is furthermore provided with additional buckles, c, at or about a right angle to the strap. and buckle a b, for attachment of the straps .c of the belt A, which is passed around the neck of the wearer and down in front of the body, and when buckled to the belt A provides a compound f belt; but the location of'the buckles and straps c 0 may be reversed.

.It will be seen that there is no liability of the body-belt slipping upward over the arms,

as it cannot pass the shoulders, or downward,

for it is sustained by the belt A, and the latter cannot be displaced over the head or shoulders, owing to the attachment with the belt A. Furthermore, the arms are left free and the head is kept well out of water, and should one belt'be injured, so that the air escapes there- ,5o from, the other belt is capable of buoying the wearer, thus providing additional security.

The valve B is constructed of a threaded nozzle, d, with bottom flange, e, a clampingnut, f, and a cap, y, with packing h.

said belt A having a fasteningstrap,

An opening is formed in the wall of the tube to receive the nozzle d, which latter is inserted from within, so that the flangee is on the inner side of the wall. screwed on the nozzle to full extent, thus clamping the material of the tube between the flange e and nut f, and securing the nozzle to the tube with a tight joint. The cap g is perforated in its top. and the packing h is on the inner face of the top, so that when the tube is to beinflated the cap is unscrewed and the top of the nozzle thereby uncovered. Air is then blown through the openings of the cap 9. and, entering the nozzle, reaches and fills the tube. The cap is then screwed down to full extent, whereby the packingis compressed against the top of the nozzle, thus closing the same and preventing the escape of the air from the tube. When lheair is to be removed the cap is unscrewed, and as the packing is relieved of pressure the air is permitted to leave the nozzle and reach the perforations of the cap, and so escape. l

The nutfis then It will be noticed that the nozzle 01 receives 7 both the clamping-nut f and screw-cap g, as the threads of the nozzle are coincident to those of the nut and cap, so that the nozzle may be of unifornidiameter throughout.

The tubes A A may be made ofrubber or other suitable Water-proof and air-tightfabric or material.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the detachably-connected inflatable body and neck belts AA, a, and buckle b and buckles c, which extend at or about a right angle to the strap and buckle a b, the belt A having straps c c, the whole being constructed and operatingsubstantially as and for thepurpose set forth. a e

The two inflatabletubes, arranged as de scribed, and provided with fastening, each having an air-valve which is constructed of a screw-threaded nozzle with a bottom flange, a clamping-nut, and a cap, said not andcap being fittedon said nozzle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

J. N. HOEELIGH. Witnesses: A

J OHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. 1?. GRANT.

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